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Côte de Beaune an exhilarating escape in the heart of Burgundy

On the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne, the Côte de Beaune is sure to turn heads, with its great wines, châteaux, bike rides and gourmet delights. A 100% epicurean stopover in Burgundy!

Mythical villages, exceptional wines and the art of living on the Route des Grands Crus

Welcome to the Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne, where every turn reveals a new postcard of golden vines and legendary cellars. Between Corgoloin and Santenay, the Côte de Beaune unfurls its ribbon of perched estates and châteaux, an itinerary tailor-made for epicureans. Here, the names ring out like promises: Meursault, Pommard, Aloxe-Corton, Chassagne-Montrachet… so many villages that embody the magic of a UNESCO-listed terroir.
You can wander from cellar to cellar, stopping for an impromptu tasting or enjoying a glass in a village square. The Côte de Beaune is the art of travelling to the rhythm of wine, between nature, heritage and passionate encounters.

Where does the name come from?

Why “Côte de Beaune”? Quite simply because this wine-growing hillside stretches along Beaune, the capital of Burgundy wines. “Côte” for its sun-drenched slopes, “Beaune” for the town that is its beating heart. A name that symbolises the inseparable link between town and vineyard, between ancestral know-how and landscapes shaped by generations of winegrowers.

A few anecdotes to share between drinks

Meursault was the setting for the cult film La Grande Vadrouille.

The Hospices de Beaune wine auction, founded in 1859, still finances the town’s hospital. Honorary presidents include Michel Drucker, Fabrice Luchini and Teddy Riner.

Château de Pommard combines a formal garden, an estate and wine tasting.

In 1880, Joseph Drouhin founded the eponymous Beaune house, which is still active on the Côte de Beaune.

Maison Champy (1720) is the oldest wine merchant in Beaune .

And it’s impossible to forget Aubert de Villaine, a leading figure at Romanée-Conti and the driving force behind the recognition of the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne .

What you need to know about the Côte de Beaune

The Côte de Beaune is Burgundy in all its diversity:

  • Legendary white wines (Meursault, Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet) and elegant reds (Pommard, Aloxe-Corton, Volnay).
  • The Route des Grands Crus de Bourgogne: 60 km and 37 wine villages between Dijon and Santenay.
  • The Lycée Viticole de Beaune has been training future wine craftsmen since 1884 (“La Viti”).

Events not to be missed

Hospices de Beaune wine auction – every 3ᵉ weekend in November: auctions, tastings and festivities throughout the town.

Paulée de Meursault – a legendary and convivial end-of-harvest lunch.

Festives de Meloisey (early August) – music, crafts, wine bars and local atmosphere.

Cep en Verre” rally in Nolay – a tasty and fun walk through vineyards and winegrowers.

Vineyard and wine walks – summer concerts, sensory workshops and gourmet discoveries.

The International Baroque Opera Festival, in July, where you can (re)discover the Baroque operatic repertoire with period instruments.

A land of emotions

Here, the soil speaks for itself: marl, clay, secret limestone. The climate whispers: morning sun, evening mist. And the wine sings: buttery notes, gunflint, little red berries.
Each sip is a postcard of Burgundy, a journey into the soul of the terroir. Between discovering the estates, breathtaking panoramas and shared moments, the Côte de Beaune can be savoured like a grand cru.

FAQ - Côte de Beaune